Marie Antoinette Research Paper

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Ideas suggesting equality between both genders went unappreciated by society during the French Revolution. Marie Antoinette welcomed these ideas by implying individualism. Scholars classified Antoinette as a rude tramp, basing their conclusions off primaries from the frustrated poor folk. These frustrated people had been cheated by their king and his financial advisors, who failed to create solutions to help the country’s ailing economy. The public looked to blame anyone who may have caused the present situation. French societal norms demonstrated this as women had to obey society and their husbands’ orders, who instructed women to only do domestic work. When queen Marie Antoinette defied these normalities and refused to comply with the public’s standards and demands, they disapproved and thought poorly of her. Thus, French society misinterpreted Antoinette’s self-confidence and nonconforming personality for selfishness and inappropriate behavior. Although she lived extravagantly and bought personal pleasures using tax dollars, …show more content…

Before we withdrew we kissed our hands to the people, which gave them great pleasure. What a happy thing it is for persons in our rank to gain the love of a whole nation so cheaply. Yet there is nothing so precious; I felt it thoroughly, and shall never forget it.”
Antoinette’s ideas of equality between all, both genders and classes have been made apparent here (Marie Antoinette: Letter to Her Mother). Throughout the excerpt, Antoinette always referred to both the King and her as “we”, instead of just herself. She demonstrated her selflessness by thinking about all the people around her. During the pre-revolution era, the French upper class looked down upon the lower class and disrespected the less fortunate (“Social Class and Revolution”). Antoinette refused to conform to such norms and treated the poor

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